"CHOQUEQUIRAO"- Trek the Andes
(14 DAYS)
Lima - Cusco - Choquequirao - 9 day Trek across Vilcabamba mountain range- Machu Picchu - Lima CHQ1-08 08-Jun 21-Jun CHQ2-08 10-Aug 23-Aug CHQ3-08 05-Oct 18-Oct

Price: £1225 single supp £155 (min 6 pax)

BE PREPARED - To help you prepare for your holiday we have compiled a comprehensive information pack covering advice on medical issues, visas, equipment, culture, a complementary Latin - Works guide to Machu Picchu.

'Hi Andy - just to let you know that I have returned safe and well having experienced the most fantastic holiday. I can fully recommend Amazonas Explorer - their planning was first class, all accomodation exactly how was suggested in the itinerary, staff on trek and transportation excellent. Our guide - Efrain, and his colleague Henry were fantastic in their knowledge and experience, and also great fun. Food superb - with high standards of hygiene. I was fortunate that the group really got on well together, my only regret is that it went so quickly and that i didn't plan to stay longer!

Many thanks,

Best wishes

Rita CHQ2-07'

JUNE DEPARTURE GUARANTEED - ONLY 6 PLACES LEFT!

Way off the beaten track, Choquequirao, the "Cradle of Gold" is an amazingly preserved Inca outpost, comparable in size to Machu Picchu and dramatically located on a promontory nearly 2,000m above the roaring Apurimac river. It is only accessible by a tough trek. Our 9-day mule supported hike to Choquequirao and beyond takes in high passes, perfectly preserved Inca Trails and awesome Andean peaks, plus a chance to visit Machu Picchu and Cusco.
This is a long, spectacular and strenuous hike crossing the entire Vilcabamba mountain range from the Apurimac to the Urubamba watershed. It is approximately 100Km long with 5,000m ascent and descent over passes of 4,600m and river crossings of 2,400m.
This is your chance to be amongst one of the few adventurers to visit this incredible site and complete this rewarding trek. We return to Cusco with an overnight in Ollantaytambo. For those who have not seen Machu Picchu a visit can be made from here. We end in Cusco with a short flight to Lima.

DETAILED ITINERARY

DAY 1: Arrive Lima. Transfer to hotel and rest up.

DAY 2: Early morning spectacular flight along the Andes to Cusco, transfer to your hotel and start acclimatising to the rarefied air of this beautiful city (3326m). In the afternoon, we take a short walking tour of the city. (B)

DAY 3: We drive very early from Cusco visiting the ruins at Tarawasi and the incredible Inca carved boulder at Sahuite en route, boasting many animal, plant and town figures carved in it before arriving at the beautiful village of Cachora high above the River Apurimac canyon and camp just below the village with a spectacular view of snow - capped mountains in the distance. To stretch our legs if time permits we can hike the final descent into Cachora. (B/L/D)

DAY 4: Here we meet our trekking team and start our trek. With full mule support we descend 1600m into the Apurimac canyon, and cross the roaring river and climb up to camp at Santa Rosa, (B/L/D)

DAY 5: Rising early we hike up out of the canyon in the morning, regaining nearly 3000m in altitude and set up base camp just short of the Choquequirao ruins. If energy and time permits we can enjoy a quick introductory tour of the ruins in the afternoon but many will prefer to have a rest and save it for the next day! (B/L/D)

DAY 6: We arrive early at the amazing ruins of Choquequirao with time to explore and marvel at this dramatic location nearly 1600m above the roaring Apurimac river and the vast size of these extensive ruins in area far bigger than Machu Picchu. There is an enormous curving bank of fine terracing, a chain of ritual baths and a central plaza surrounded by fine ceremonial and high status residential architecture. Large areas still remain covered in the thick cloud forest giving an insight into how the first explorer's felt arriving at this deserted city. Its purpose is also still unclear as the largest of the outlying sites it is unmentioned in the chronicles and remained undiscovered until the 18th century. We return to our base camp below for the evening. (B/L/D)

DAY 7: Leaving at the crack of dawn, we bid farewell to Choquequirao, visiting en route another interesting ruin called Picha Unuyoc - the "water shrine". A short, sharp climb is followed by a descent of 1400m into the Rio Blanco canyon and then another tough climb of 1200m up to the small campsite of Maizal at an altitude 3000m. This is probably the toughest day of the trip but allowing all day and using the support horses where necessary, it is manageable by fit trekkers (B/L/D)

DAY 8: Starting early again we climb to the Abra San Juan pass at 4000m with spectacular views of the Cordillera Vilcabamba mountain range (when not in cloud), passing on route Corihuayrachina (as seen on Discovery channel!) and the much more interesting old silver mines of Mina Victoria thought to have been worked for over 1000 years. We camp at the charming Andean village of Yanama (B/L/D)

DAY 9: We hike up the Yanama valley turning right and climb towards our final challenge - the Totora pass - our highest point of the trip at 4500m pass with hopefully spectacular views of the snow capped peak called Sacsayraoc. We camp below the pass beside the small community of Totora. (B/L/D)

DAY 10: A day of incredible changing scenery as we descend nearly 2000m to our camp beside the village of Lucmabamba, which is semi-tropical. We follow the Rio Santa Teresa down for nearly 7 hours hiking but the views of waterfalls, a variety of bird life and differing vegetation make it all worthwhile and especially as Lucmabamba has a small shop selling beer and soft drinks to celebrate nearing the end of our epic journey! (B/L/D)

DAY 11: Our final day of hiking takes us through lush vegetation of coffee and tropical fruit plantations, into pristine cloud forest. We follow an ancient Inca Trail to Llactapata, an Inca site that is only recently being excavated. We will also have a truly amazing view of Machu Picchu that few tourists get to see from the back. We descend to the Urubamba valley to the hydroelectric plant from where a short but spectacular train journey brings us to the bustling tourist town now know as Machu Picchu Pueblo (formerly called Aguas Calientes). Here we check into our hotel and enjoy a shower before heading out to sample one of the many restaurants and bars. (B/L)

DAY 12: First thing in the morning we catch a bus (or the energetic can hike) to Machu Picchu and have it virtually to ourselves for a full guided tour, with time afterwards to climb Huayna Picchu, walk out to the Inca bridge or else just wander through the ruins soaking up the amazing atmosphere. We have a late lunch in Aguas Calientes before boarding the afternoon train back to Poroy. Here our waiting bus speeds us back to our Cusco Hotel. If you have the energy we can then explore Cusco's excellent nightlife. (B/L)

DAY 13: There is so much to see and do in Cusco that we dedicate a whole day to doing just that. Whether your interest is exploring Inca ruins, visiting Colonial churches, bargain hunting in Indian markets or just relaxing over a cappuccino on a terrace overlooking the Plaza de Armas, Cusco has it all. (B).

DAY 14: Transfer to airport and fly Lima in time for your international flights home. (B)

WE PROVIDE: All airport transfers, internal flights. Transport to and from the trail in private vehicle; all camping and cooking equipment including Thermarests, spacious two person tents, dining, cook and toilet tent. Extensive First-aid kit including Oxygen; professional English and Spanish speaking guides trained in first-aid and C.P.R. Mules, cook team, entrance to the Choquequirao, Quality 3* hotels in Lima and Cusco and all meals as indicated in the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).

NOT INCLUDED: International flights, personal belongings, sleeping bag, airport taxes($5 local, $28 international), personal expenses and tips. Day trip to Machu Picchu. Day rooms in Lima on final day are not included but can also be organised if required.

EQUIPMENT LIST:
On this expedition we will be experiencing all extremes of Peruvian climate, from freezing Altiplano to extremely hot sunshine. During the day hopefully it will be generally sunny enough for shorts and T-shirts though having a fleece and rain gear handy is advisable. It will get cold (as low as zero degrees whilst camping) especially in the evenings so bring a warm fleece jacket, a good waterproof and some warm clothes including thermal underwear, gloves, scarf and woolly hat as well as one set of smarter clothes for Cusco. Good quality Alpaca jumpers are available in Cusco. A good quality sleeping bag is essential for your enjoyment of this trip.

SUGGESTED LIST
- Comfortable clothes for travel - Smart clothes for night life
- Shorts - T-shirts
- A warm fleece or down jacket - Thermal underwear
- Warm hat, gloves, scarf - Sweater (Available in Cusco)
- Waterproof coat & trousers (poncho) - Socks / underwear
- Trekking trousers - After trekking trousers & t-shirt
- Good, well worn -in walking boots - After trek shoes (sandals)
- Sleeping bag (-5ºC) - Towel
- Water bottle & purification tablets - Sunglasses
- Swim suit - Sun-hat,
- Head torch & spare batteries - Book, notepaper & pen (optional)
- Suntan lotion factor 15+ / After sun - Lipbalm
- Binoculars (optional) - Camera & film 100 & 400 (optional)
- Pocket knife - Insect Repellent
- Ski poles & protective covers (optional) - Personal toilet kit
- Money belt - Day sack & rain-cover
- Large waterproof kit bag for mule carried equipment
- Personal first aid kit to include: painkillers, plasters (band-aids), moleskin, anti-biotic cream, general anti-biotics (ask your GP), after-bite (tiger balm), anti-diarrhoea tablets, throat lozenges, re-hydration salts & personal medication.
(Amazonas Explorer carry an extensive first aid kit & Oxygen on all trips, but these are generally for emergencies only)

Please note:
· The mules carry all your heavy camping gear but this is inaccessible during the day so please bring a small day-pack to carry your personal day gear in - ie water-bottle, iodine tablets, camera, sun-block, insect repellent, light fleece and rain jacket.
· Any excess gear may be stored in Cusco at your hotel whilst trekking.
· Most good quality sporting equipment is unavailable in Peru so if anyone wishes to donate any outdoor clothes, sleeping bags etc they will be gratefully received by any of our staff.
· Amazonas Explorer also supports the recognised Scottish charity www.dentalprojectperu.org . This is founded by past client Jacqui Nimmo.

RECOMMENDED READING
The White Rock - Hugh Thomson,
Running the Amazon - Joe Kane.
Exploring Cusco - Peter Frost
The Inca Trail - Richard Danbury
Field guide to the birds of Machu Picchu - Barry Walker
Neo-tropical companion - John C Kricher
Exploration Fawcett - Colonel Percy Harrison Fawcett (Century 1988)
The bridge of San Luis Rey - Thorton Wilder
Conquest of the Incas - John Hemmingway
Into the forests of the night - John Simpson
Touching the void - Joe Simpson
Heart of the Amazon - Yossi Ghinsberg
Inca Kola - Matthew Paris
Inca Gold - Clive Cussler
Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord - Loius de Bernieres
Realm of the Incas - Max Milligan

AND LASTLY PLEASE NOTE
The "Choquequirao -Trek the Andes" travels through a remote and rarely visited part of Peru and we believe our clients should be aware that the remoteness that makes this trail so very special could also cause certain problems. Thus, whilst Amazonas Explorer endeavours to minimise the chances of anything unexpected happening, it has to be noted that no itinerary can or should be rigidly adhered to. This is the very nature of adventure travel and we expect our clients to be prepared for delays and slight alterations in our programmed events.
This expedition involves trekking over several high passes up to 4600m and involves steep descents -it is recommended that all clients should have some previous trekking experience and should be in reasonable fitness.
Please note last minute international & internal flight changes, also excess baggage charges are out of our control. In all cases we will advise you of any changes in the itinerary as early as possible. We have taken all these possibilities into account when planning this expedition and have allowed sufficient leeway to enable us to successfully run this exceptional trip.
You should also be aware that adventure travel, in particular trekking and travelling in remote areas such as Southern Peru, does carry with it certain inherent risks that you, the client, will have to assume. You will have to take out adequate travel insurance to cover these risks and any costs incurred due to sickness, delayed flights and other factors out of Amazonas Explorer control.
A pre-departure meeting will be held on arrival in Cusco. It is highly recommended you attend. All clients will be asked to sign a risk assumption form and must provide a photocopy of their passport, Peru entry stamp and details of their travel insurance.

We look forward to seeing you in Cusco.